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QMI Agency

Upon being introduced as hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers, former slugger Mark McGwire offered some advice: Stay away from performance-enhancing drugs.

"Yeah, don't do it," McGwire -- who has admitted using steroids when he broke MLB's home run record in 1998 -- told Fox Sports Radio on Thursday.

"Use your head. It's a mistake that I have to live with for the rest of my life. I have to deal with never, ever getting into the Hall of Fame -- I totally understand and totally respect (the voters') opinion and I will never, ever push it.

"One of the hardest things I had to do this year was sit down with my nine- and 10-year-old boys and tell them what dad did. That was a really hard thing to do but I did it.

If any ball player ever came up to me ... (to ask about steroids, I'd tell him) run away from it. It's not good. Run away from it."

METS DANGLE DICKEY

Pitcher R.A. Dickey, coming off a career year at age 38, is on the trade block, according to multiple reports.

The New York Mets have been working on a contract extension but are balking at Dickey's request for a long-term deal, believed to be $60 million over four years.

The knuckleballer is scheduled to make $5 million in 2013 before becoming eligible for free agency. He had a 20-6 record this past season with a 2.73 earned-run average.

BRIEFLY

The Colorado Rockies on Friday will introduce their new manager, Walt Weiss. A former major-league shortstop, Weiss played for the Rockies from 1994 through 1997 and worked for them as an adviser from 2002 to 2008. Jason Giambi, a candidate for Weiss' job, could become the hitting coach should he decide to retire as a player ... Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane has been chosen MLB's executive of the year. In voting by his peers, Beane received 31 votes to finish ahead of Mike Rizzo of the Washington Nationals (13) and Jon Daniels of the Texas Rangers (six) ... The Miami Marlins have hired former Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez as hitting coach, ESPN New York has reported. The Boston Red Sox also were interested in Martinez